SHIP’S COOK DESERTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 138, 1 September 1927, Page 13

SHIP’S COOK DESERTS

LIKED DUNEDIN (Special to. THE SVX.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday. A charge of having absented himself from the steamer Matatua, without leave, was preferred against James Arthur Skinner, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Cfcief-I)etective Cameron said Skinner signed on the Matatua in England as second cook for the round trip. When the ship was at Auckland, however, he deserted and came to Dunedin, where he had a young lady, and Where he wanted to stay. Another aspect, however, was the expense the shipping company had incurred in replacing the man. This had to be done at the New Zealand rate of wages and a return fare. The ship had left for England a fortnight ago. Skinner said his wages had been £ 9 a month. He left £l4 or £ls on the ship. He had been looking for work, but in the meantime had enough money to keep going. The magistrate said defendant seemed a decent type of young man and no object would be served in sending him to prison, which was the only punishment that could be inflicted. He had suffered a penalty in having to lose his wages. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. _